I took a little walk around the garden yesterday and saw several things blooming. I expected the Camellias, of course, but also found Salvia madrensis, one Canna, lots of Becca's Mist Flower (Eupatorium coelestinum), 'Hillside Sheffield' Chrysanthemum, some wild Asters, 2 Hydrangeas (Oak Hill and Forever and Ever Pink) and Knock Out Roses, both pink and red, a new Mahonia sample that I got at the Garden Writer's Symposium - 'Soft Caress' .  , and some Silene armeria that I never got around to planting.

What's blooming in your neck of the woods?

d

Not much blooming here.  Except my crocus sativus and wild violets.  The hollyhocks that I transplanted earlier this year bloomed during the summer and look like they want to bloom again.  Can't figure that one out. 

In the same bed, I also have cilantro growing.  I can't figure it out.  Everything except the crocus should have froze by now since we have had a killing frost.  Its not really protected and on the north side.  Oh well! I'l take it!

Molly

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The Earth Laughs with Flowers  -  Emerson

We have lots of berries, too. I've been watching the birds come in to get the berries on the Hollies by my office window for several weeks now, since they turned red.

I was just out planting a new sample Encore Azalea, and the previously mentioned Mahonia and some (more) Hydrangeas and noticed that the volunteer Nandinas are covered in berries, too.

What berry plants do you have that have fruit now. Anything on the Viburnums?

d

I've forgotten where you live, but it's an interesting list.  Callas aren't hardy for me, nor Geraniums (the Pelargoniums- the ones with the beautiful mostly red flowers).  Fuchsias hate both our heat and our cold.

Persimmons are great for fall and winter interest. 'Possums usually get the fruit here before it colors up much.

d

We've had a couple of frosts, but nothing below 30 yet. Still, you have much more blooming than we have.

d

Are you going to try to make jelly out of the mahonia or am I thinking of something else?

We have had at least 3 really hard frosts, down into the low 20s, (and some freezing fog) where you have to scrape the windshields, but that one flower bed is hanging in there. 

I was out looking again today and it looks like my crocus is going to keep blooming.  Looks to me to be kinda like the energizer bunny.  Just goes and goes and goes! 

Molly

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The Earth Laughs with Flowers  -  Emerson

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I'm in California, north of San Francisco. 

I cheated a bit, the geraniums are in pots.  Usually they are on hangers out in the yard but we bring them in under the patio cover for the winter.  The Fuchsias are also in pots...one on the patio and one out by the gazebo near the azalea. Two more azaleas (also in pots) are just outside the patio and I notice one of them looks dreadful.  These are what I call sun azaleas that thrive in afternoon sun and the red one seems more susceptible to frost than the pink one. Time to wheel those under the patio cover.

As to the persimmons, I'm tempted to sneak up there some night and harvest a few. Perhaps they'll blame it on the possums or raccoons.  (g)

Depending on the Persimmon, they can really pack some pucker power if you eat them before frost. We have the wild type. The 'possums don't seem to mind much.  

How much frost do you get? Is the patio cover enough protection or do you have to put curtains or something around it to hold in the heat?

d